Terminal box

ABSTRACT

A terminal box is disclosed. The terminal box includes a terminal box body embedded in a wall and for providing a space for installation of a terminal and a switch to connect an incoming electric wire, telephone line, designated Internet line, antenna line, or the like, and a cover coupled to the front of the terminal box body. The cover is provided at the center thereof with an installation aperture for the switch, the plug, and like, and at both sides a resting face for installing a connection panel. In addition, the cover and the connection panel can be integrally connected with each other by installing a support rod across the rear surface thereof, so that deformation such as sagging can be prevented when in use. The terminal box is constructed so as to be able to improve the installation efficiency and reduce the manufacturing cost.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a terminal box for providing a spacefor installation of a terminal to connect a electric wire, a telephoneline, a designated Internet line, an antenna line or the like. Moreparticularly, the invention relates to such a terminal box, in which thecover of a terminal box body can be used for connecting a plurality ofterminal box bodies continuously by coupling a connection panel at bothsides thereof, together with the existing working aperture.

BACKGROUND ART

In general, a terminal box is embedded in a wall structure, when adetached house, a town house, or a lager building is built, and used forproviding a space for installation of a terminal or a switch to connectthe incoming electric wire, telephone line, designated Internet line,antenna line, and the like.

In order to install these terminal boxes in the wall, a preparedterminal box is placed in the wall structure with its opening directedinwards, and a cover is disposed thereabove, and then a cement mortar isplaced, so that the terminal box can be embedded in the wall to therebyform a fixed structure.

However, plural terminal boxes can be embedded in the wall structure inthe same manner as described above, but in this case a gap betweenneighboring terminal boxes can be necessarily maintained. If the gap isnot properly maintained, the terminal box is tilted during the concreteplacing work, thereby resulting in a faulty installation of the terminalbox, and thus occasionally a reinstallation, which might lead todestruction of the wall structure.

Therefore, in order to avoid these faulty installation, as shown in FIG.1, a separate fixing panel 20 formed of a metal plate is provided at thefront side of terminal boxes 10. The fixing panel is used for fixingplural terminal boxes 10 to thereby maintain a gap between the terminalboxes.

However, the convention terminal box employs the fixing panel 20 formedof a metal sheet, thereby increasing the manufacturing cost. That, a lid12 is installed in the front side of the terminal box 10, and the fixingpanel 20 formed of a metal plate is installed in the front side of thelid 12, so that the lid 12 and the fixing panel 20 are installed, induplicate, in the front side of the terminal box 10, thereby leading toan increase in the cost thereof.

In addition, an installation error of the fixing panel to the terminalbox results in a significant reduction in the work efficiency.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems in theart, and it is an object of the invention to provide a terminal box, inwhich, in the case where a plurality of terminal boxes are installed ina wall structure, a gap between neighboring terminal boxes can bemaintained, thereby improving the installation efficiency and enablingthe mass production thereof, which results in a cost reduction.

Another object of the invention is to provide a terminal box, which canprevent the cover thereof from deformation such as sagging, or the like.

In order to accomplish the above objects, according to one aspect of thepresent invention, there is provided a terminal box internally having anaccommodating space for installing a terminal and a switch, whichconnects an incoming communication or electric wire therethrough. Theterminal box is embedded in a concrete wall. The terminal box includes:a terminal box body of a rectangular shape opened forwardly to from anopened portion and having a pair of wire inlets formed at each of bothsides thereof so as to communicate with the accommodating space; aplate-shaped cover coupled to the front end of the terminal box body tocover the opened portion of the terminal box body, the cover beingformed at the center portion thereof with an installation aperture forcommunicating with the accommodating space via the opened portion of theterminal box body, and being respectively formed at both sides thereofwith an inwardly stepped-down resting face having with a certain width,the resting face having at least one coupling hole formed thereon; and aconnection panel for connecting continuously neighboring covers inseries such that it is installed on the resting face of the cover andforms the same plane with the cover, the width of the connection panelbeing twice as much as that of each resting face, the connection panelhaving at least one coupling projection formed on the rear surfacethereof to be detachably coupled to the least one coupling hole formedon the resting face of the cover, the connection panel having the shapeof a plate and being formed of the same material as the cover.

Preferably, the cover and the connection panel may further include, atthe upper and lower portions thereof, a bent portion bent towards theterminal box body, respectively.

The coupling projection is in the form of a hook.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided aterminal box having an accommodating space for installing a terminal anda switch, which connects an incoming communication or electric wire. Theterminal box is to be embedded in a concrete wall. The terminal boxcomprises: a terminal box body of a rectangular shape opened forwardlyto form an opened portion and having a pair of wire inlets formed ateach of both sides thereof so as to communicate with the accommodatingspace; a plate-shaped cover coupled to the front end of the terminal boxbody to cover the opened portion of the terminal box body, the coverbeing formed at the center portion thereof with an installation aperturefor communicating with the accommodating space via the opened portion ofthe terminal box body, and being respectively formed at both sidesthereof with an inwardly stepped-down resting face having with a certainwidth, the resting face having at least one coupling hole; and aconnection panel for connecting continuously neighboring covers inseries such that it is installed on the resting face of the cover andforms the same plane with the cover, the width of the connection panelbeing twice as much as that of each resting face, the connection panelhaving at least one coupling projection formed on the rear surfacethereof to be detachably coupled to the least one coupling hole formedon the resting face of the cover, the connection panel having the shapeof a plate and being formed of the same material as the cover; and asupport rod inserted into insert holes provided in projections, whichare formed respectively in the rear surfaces of the connection panel andthe cover so that the cover and the connection panel are integrallyconnected with each other by means of the support rod horizontallycrossing the cover and the connection panel.

Preferably, the support rod is installed such that it is placed at theupper and lower portions of the rear surface of the cover and theconnection panel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Further objects and advantages of the invention can be more fullyunderstood from the following detailed description taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a conventional terminal box having a fixing panel forembedding it to a wall structure:

FIG. 2 is a perspective exploded view of the terminal box according toone embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a continuous connection of theterminal box covers by means of a connection panel;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a terminal box installed in thecover of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a perspective exploded view of a terminal box according to asecond embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a perspective exploded view of the terminal box of FIG. 6,which is seen from the rear side thereof;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the covers continuously connected in theterminal box of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a rear view of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line I-I line in FIG.9;

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II-II in FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line C-C in FIG. 12;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a modified embodiment, which has aplurality of covers and a plurality of connection panels correspondinglythereto;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the rear view of FIG. 13, in which onlythe cover and connection panels are illustrated; and

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of FIG. 14, in which the covers arecontinuously connected by means of the connection panel.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The preferred embodiments of the invention will be explained in detailwith reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIGS. 2 to 5 show a terminal box according to a first embodiment of theinvention. More specifically, FIG. 2 is a perspective exploded view ofthe terminal box according to one embodiment, FIG. 3 is a perspectiveview showing a continuous connection of the terminal box covers by meansof a connection panel, FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a terminalbox installed in the cover of FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 is a top plan view ofFIG. 4.

As shown in the figures, the terminal box according to the firstembodiment of the invention is embedded in a concrete wall in order toprovide a space, in which a terminal for connecting an incoming electricwire or the like can be installed. The terminal box is provided with aterminal box body 110. The terminal box body 110 comprises a rectangularbox, which is embedded in the wall, and has an accommodating space 112for installing a terminal and a plurality of wire inlet holes 114communicating to the accommodating space 112. The wire inlet hole 114 isinitially closed, and after embedded in the wall, can be punched out tomake the inlet hole 114. The wire inlet hole 114 is formed of a groovefor the convenience of punching-out the hole.

The above-described terminal box body 110 is installed in a certainnumber thereof, usually two or three terminal boxes, depending on theplace where it is installed.

In addition, the terminal box body 110 is opened to the front sidethereof so as to communicate with the accommodating space 112, so that acover 120 is attached to the front side of the terminal box body. Thenumber of the covers 120 corresponds to that of the terminal box body110 to be installed. The cover 120 is installed in the front side of theterminal box body 110 and has an installation aperture 122 forinstalling a closure (not shown). At both sides of the cover is provideda stepped-down resting face 124, on which about two coupling holes 126are formed.

A closure to be installed in the installation aperture 112 is intendedto prevent the concrete mortar from in-flowing to the accommodatingspace 112 of the terminal box body 110, for example, during a concreteplacing work or a plastering work. The concrete placing work orplastering work is carried out with the accommodating space closed bymeans of the closure installed in the installation aperture, and theclosure is removed after finishing the work.

Furthermore, at both sides of the cover 120 is installed a connectionpanel 130, preferably which is rested and installed in the resting face124 of the cover 120 such that the front faces of the cover 120 and theconnection panel 130 can be on the same plane.

The connection panel 130 is installed between neighboring covers 120 tomaintain a gap therebetween and thus maintain a gap between the terminalbox bodies 110 with the cover 120 connected thereto. Such a connectionpanel 130 has about two coupling projections 132 formed on the rearsurface thereof in such a manner as to correspond to positions of thecoupling holes 126. Therefore, the connection panel 130 is firmly fixedto the cover 120 by the coupling hole and the coupling projection fittedtogether.

In addition, the connection panel 130 and the cover 120 respectivelyhave a bent portion 128, 134 formed in the upper and lower portionsthereof. The bent portions 128, 134 facilitate a firm and easyconnection with the terminal box bodies 110, and prevent a movementafter connection thereof by supporting the upper and lower portions ofthe terminal box body 110 by means of the bent portions 128, 134.

The above connection panel 130 is placed at both sides of the cover 120and simply connected in such a manner that the coupling hole 126 formedin the cover 120 is fitted into the coupling projection 132 formed inthe connection panel 130, thereby maintaining a gap between the terminalbox bodies 110 to be fixed to the cover 120.

Furthermore, the connection panel 130 and the cover 120 may bemass-produced in a standardized fashion by an injection molding process,thereby improving the manufacturing efficiency and reducing themanufacturing cost. The number of covers 120 and connection panels 130can be determined, depending on the number of terminal box bodies 110 tobe installed, thereby enabling various applications.

In addition, in case where the connection panel 130 and the cover 120are assembled in plural to form a unitary assembly, it is preferablethat the connection panel 130 a to be placed at both ends thereof isprovided with a support plate 130 formed by bending inwardly. When theunitary assembly of the connection panels 130 and the covers 120 isembedded, both side portions of the assembly can be supported by thesupport plate 131.

According to the invention as described above, the terminal box isembedded beforehand when constructing a building. That is, after theterminal box body 110 with the cover 120 and the connection panel 130assembled to the front face thereof is fixed to a supporting bar or thelike forming a building frame structure, a concrete placing work iscarried out. Therefore, the terminal box of the invention can beinstalled in a desired place of the wall while maintaining a certain gapbetween neighboring terminal box bodies.

FIGS. 6 to 15 show a terminal box according to a second embodiment ofthe invention. More specifically, FIG. 6 is a perspective exploded viewof a terminal box according to the second embodiment of the invention,FIG. 7 is a perspective exploded view of the terminal box of FIG. 6,which is seen from the rear side thereof, FIG. 8 is a perspective viewof the covers continuously connected in the terminal box of FIG. 6, FIG.9 is a rear view of FIG. 8, FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view takenalong the line I-I line in FIG. 9, FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional viewtaken along the line II-II in FIG. 10, and FIG. 12 is a cross-sectionalview taken along the line C-C in FIG. 12.

As shown in the figures, the second embodiment of the invention has asimilar construction to the previous first embodiment, and a similarelement is denoted by a same reference numeral.

According to the second embodiment of the invention, the terminal boxbody 110 has the same construction as the first embodiment, except forits shape. In addition, similarly, the cover 120 and the connectionpanel 130 also is installed at the front face of the terminal box body110 to maintain a gap between neighboring ones, which are different fromthe first embodiment in terms of their shape and pattern.

Furthermore, the coupling projection 132 formed in the connection panel130 is preferred to be formed in the shape of a hook. Therefore, thecover 120 cannot be easily released after the coupling hole 126 isinserted and coupled into the coupling projection 132.

As described above, according to the second embodiment of the invention,the connection panel 130 is provided at its rear surface with a firstprojection 142 projected rearwards through between the neighboringcovers 120, and the cover 120 is provided with a second projection 144formed at the rear surface thereof with the same height as the firstprojection 142. These first and second projections 142, 144 isinternally provided with a first and second insert holes 141 a, 144 a inorder for a support rod 140 to be inserted thereinto in a horizontaldirection.

The support rod 140 is inserted horizontally into the first and secondinsert holes 142 a, 144 a so that the cover 120 and the connection panel130 is prevented from sagging when assembled and connected with eachother.

The insert holes 142 a, 144 a and the above support rod 140 insertedthereinto are preferred to be located at the upper and lower portions ofthe rear surface of the cover 120 and the connection panel 130, therebymore surely preventing the sagging of the cover 120 and connection panel130.

Therefore, since the cover 120 and the connection panel 130 are firmlysupported by the support rod 140, during a concrete placing work theconcrete mortar can prevent the cover 120, the connection panel 130, andthe terminal box fixed to the cover 120 from sagging, so that theterminal box can be installed in the correct position, thereby avoidinga faulty installation of terminal box.

The second embodiment as described above illustrates two terminal boxbodies 110, and FIGS. 13 to 15 show three terminal box bodies 110, butmore than three terminal box bodies may be installed.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a modified embodiment, which has aplurality of covers and a plurality of connection panels correspondinglythereto. FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the rear view of FIG. 13, inwhich only the cover and connection panels are illustrated, and FIG. 15is a perspective view of FIG. 14, in which the covers are continuouslyconnected by means of the connection panel.

The present invention shown in FIGS. 13 to 15 is different from thesecond embodiment, in terms of the number of the terminal box bodies 110embedded in a wall, and the number of the covers 120 and the connectionpanels 130 installed forwards of the terminal box body 110.

In this way, the number of the cover 120 and the connection panel 130 isdetermined, depending on a desired number of the terminal box bodies 110to be embedded in a wall. Usually, two or three terminal boxes are usedmost.

According to the second embodiment of the invention having theabove-described construction, the terminal box bodies 110 is embeddedbeforehand when constructing a building. That is, after the terminal boxbody 110 with the cover 120 and the connection panel 130 assembled tothe front face thereof is fixed to a supporting bar or the like forminga building frame structure, a concrete placing work is carried out.Therefore, the terminal box of the invention can be installed in adesired place of the wall while maintaining a certain gap betweenneighboring terminal box bodies.

At this time, the terminal box is firmly supported by the cover 120fixed to the front of the terminal box body 100, the connection panel130 connected between the covers 120, and the support rod 140.Therefore, the terminal box can sustain the pressure caused by theconcrete mortar during the concrete placing work, so that the positionof the terminal box is not displaced, thereby avoiding a faultyinstallation of terminal box.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

As understood from the above description, according to the presentinvention, a single cover can serve to maintain a gap between theterminal box bodies, along with the function as a cover for the terminalbox body, thereby enabling an easy installation and thus improvingworking efficiency when embedding the terminal box in a wall. Inaddition, the reduction of components in the terminal box results in acost-down effect. Furthermore, it can avoid deformation caused by itsself-gravity due to a large number of covers when plural terminal boxesare arranged.

1. A terminal box internally having an accommodating space forinstalling a terminal and a switch, which connects an incomingcommunication or electric wire therethrough, the terminal box beingembedded in a concrete wall, the terminal box comprising: a) a terminalbox body of a rectangular shape opened forwardly to form an openedportion and having a pair of wire inlets formed at each of both sidesthereof so as to communicate with the accommodating space; b) aplate-shaped cover coupled to the front end of the terminal box body tocover the opened portion of the terminal box body, the cover beingformed at the center portion thereof with an installation aperture forcommunicating with the accommodating space via the opened portion of theterminal box body, and being respectively formed at both sides thereofwith an inwardly stepped-down resting face having with a certain width,the resting face having at least one coupling hole formed thereon; andc) a connection panel for connecting continuously neighboring covers inseries such that it is installed on the resting face of the cover andforms the same plane with the cover, the width of the connection panelbeing twice as much as that of each resting face, the connection panelhaving at least one coupling projection formed on the rear surfacethereof to be detachably coupled to the least one coupling hole formedon the resting face of the cover, the connection panel having the shapeof a plate and being formed of the same material as the cover.
 2. Aterminal box according to claim 1, wherein the cover and the connectionpanel further include, at the upper and lower portions thereof, a bentportion bent towards the terminal box body, respectively.
 3. A terminalbox according to claim 1, wherein the coupling projection is in the formof a hook.
 4. A terminal box internally having an accommodating spacefor installing a terminal and a switch, which connects an incomingcommunication or electric wire, the terminal box being to be embedded ina concrete wall, the terminal box comprising: a) a terminal box body ofa rectangular shape opened forwardly to form an opened portion andhaving a pair of wire inlets formed at each of both sides thereof so asto communicate with the accommodating space; b) a plate-shaped covercoupled to the front end of the terminal box body to cover the openedportion of the terminal box body, the cover being formed at the centerportion thereof with an installation aperture for communicating with theaccommodating space via the opened portion of the terminal box body, andbeing respectively formed at both sides thereof with an inwardlystepped-down resting face having with a certain width, the resting facehaving at least one coupling hole formed thereon; and c) a connectionpanel for connecting continuously neighboring covers in series such thatit is installed on the resting face of the cover and forms the sameplane with the cover, the width of the connection panel being twice asmuch as that of each resting face, the connection panel having at leastone coupling projection formed on the rear surface thereof to bedetachably coupled to the least one coupling hole formed on the restingface of the cover, the connection panel having the shape of a plate andbeing formed of the same material as the cover; and d) a support rodinserted into insert holes provided in projections, which are formedrespectively in the rear surfaces of the connection panel and the coverso that the cover and the connection panel are integrally connected witheach other by means of the support rod horizontally crossing the coverand the connection panel.
 5. A terminal box according to claim 4,wherein the support rod is installed such that it is placed at the upperand lower portions of the rear surface of the cover and the connectionpanel.